Ecological and antileishmanial activity of diterpenes derived from the Antarctic sponge Dendrilla membranosa

The cold waters of Antarctica harbor bountiful marine life and biodiversity that promotes competition and the biosynthesis of defensive secondary metabolites. One inhabitant, the vibrant yellow sponge Dendrilla membranosa, is known to inhibit feeding of Antarctic predators such as sea stars and amphipods. A metabolomics approach was undertaken to identify whether sponges within the amphipod-rich algal canopy adopt different chemical profiles to account for the increased predation pressure. In addition, our group has identified the membranolides from D. membranosa. This suite of methoxylated compounds possess potent and selective activity against the leishmaniasis-causing parasite Leishmania donovani. The origin of these compounds will be investigated as artifacts from methanolic degradation of aplysulphurin.